Two Weeks Ago

The guest room Kain was escorted to was nicer than he anticipated.

Large red drapes hung from floor to ceiling over the wall-length windows that dominated the far side of the room. Golden tassels swung the drapes to either side, revealing a glass door that led onto a flower-dominated balcony.

To the left laid a large, ebony-wood door that the servant informed him led to an adjoining bath. On either side of the exit stood large, exotic plants. Beyond them were sitting chairs that met at a bocote coffee table. Kain ran his hand along the side of the piece, admiring the expensive cut of the wood. Bocate was rare. He only recognized it because Artemios had once received a contract to transport it.

The headboard of the massive bed situated against the right wall seemed to be made with the same wood. It spoke to the storied wealth of Sol that such expensive furnishings decorated what had been empty guest quarters. Or, perhaps it said more about Alekos' intentions. There had to be simpler rooms than this. Even the room divider set up next to the bed was one of fine make.

"His Majesty wishes his guests to enjoy the highest privacy when staying at the palace. I've keys for you. They'll lock the bathroom and hallway doors."

Kain turned to face the voice. The servant that had led him from Alekos stood a polite five feet in from the hall, their hands presenting an iron keyring. Kain stepped over to take it, his mind caught on the servant's words.

"A lock for the bathroom?" he questioned.

The servant flushed, raising a now free hand to scratch at their cheek. "In case you wish to block access from the madam's suite."

Kain stilled. As the words sunk in, a slow heat flooded his face. Alekos must have assumed one or more of his companions were with him. It wasn't an unfair assumption, given he was twenty, and noble.

"What rooms are the others staying in?" he asked, keeping the rest of his thoughts silent.

It wasn't as if having an adjoining room wasn't useful. It meant quick access to one of the others if something went wrong.

The servant relaxed, apparently satisfied with Kain's silent approval. "The rooms to either side of your suite are to be given to your companions."

Relief sapped his tension. None of them would be alone in this luxury.

"Is there anything else you desire, Lord Okeanos?"

Kain winced. It was on the tip of his tongue to request his name be used, but Artemios' education caged the words. If he requested informatilty when Alekos had obviously told the servant he was a member of Cieonian nobility, then the servant would wonder why. Rumors among the staff would fly, and only escalate the speed of gossip within the palace.

No one at court could be trusted, and he wanted to cling to Alekos' offered anonymity for as long as possible.

"No, this is enough," he said, then hesitated. His eyes fell to the fine furnishings, and suddenly Kain felt as dirty as he no doubt looked. "Actually, would it be possible to have a bath readied?"

The servant brightened. "There's no need. His Majesty ensures that a witch makes monthly rounds. All baths in the palace are magicked with their own water. Even the basin fills itself." He hesitated, giving Kain what was likely supposed to be a discreet once-over. "Do you want me to show you how it works, Milord?"

Kain shook his head. If he couldn't figure it out, no doubt one of the others would know. "No, thank you. You can go."

"Very well, Milord."

The servant bowed, then stepped back into the hall. It wasn't until the door clicked shut that Kain finally drew in a deep, calming breath and dropped into one of the sitting chairs. His skin near-crawled with the knowledge that the room felt far too expensive for his shabby clothes. After the bath he would need to acquire each of them a few outfits for their stay. He grimaced at the thought.

They didn't have enough money left to afford the sort of clothing the nobility wore.

He peeled himself from the chair and started for the bathroom. One problem at a time. First, he would get clean so he didn't leave any marks of his travel on the furniture.

It took Kain fifteen minutes to decipher how the bathroom worked, before he spent nearly an hour getting clean. By the time he had finished, he resembled a raisin, but was more relaxed than he had been in months. The steaming stream of water that fell from the ceiling, as well as two faucets at either side of the tub, were like nothing he had ever experienced on the Airlea.

The faint sound of someone knocking on the hall door met his ears while he toweled off his hair. Hesitation swept through him, before he swung the towel around his hips and stepped out into the bedroom. It would be inappropriate to answer half dressed, but throwing on his old clothing would defeat the purpose of a bath.

"Who is it?" he called.

"Lyre, Milord," the servant replied. "His Majesty said you might be in need of a tailor. I've a dressing gown to tide you over until he arrives."

"Oh." Thank the gods. "Give me just a moment."

The dressing gown was comfortable, although a tad too big. The servant left after passing it over, and Kain had quickly exchanged his torn, blood matted clothes for the soft fabric. He had just finished tying off the waist when another knock came. This time, accompanied by an extremely welcome voice.

"Kain?"

He pulled open the door, half-tempted to pull Melitta into a hug. Logic stilled his hands as warmth flooded his veins.

When he had left her in the dungeons, he'd half expected not to return. The truth of the new situation suddenly hit him. The execution had been indefinitely postponed. Whatever Kyril tried to claim, the truthsayer would call his bluff.

Even a duke didn't have enough money to buy out a gods' child. Probably.

The others stood together in the hall behind Melitta, so Kain stepped out of the way. Despite how little time had passed, their entire group appeared more bedragged than they had upon arriving in Sol. Melitta in particular drew his attention--her skin having taken on a pallid edge. Hopefully, Isidor would be able to help once they'd settled into their rooms.

For the moment, however, they all shuffled into his, each passing body stealing more and more tension from his frame. Everyone would live, Kain would have to be content with that. The month would put them behind schedule, but at least their heads were off the chopping block.

It hurt, and he itched to run, but in the end, if the king told them to stay, there was nothing they could do to change that, short of insulting the very crown that currently protected them. Their situations were already complicated enough without the addition of treason.

"The king saw my sword," Kain said in greeting.

Melitta's lips quirked. "It's a pleasure to see you alive as well."

"Your sword?" Isidor asked as he dropped into one of the chairs.

Kain hesitated. He'd forgotten how little Isidor knew about everything. During their trip to Sol he'd shared more details about their journey, but nothing about himself. "It's complicated. A sign of my heritage."

Isidor snorted. "What isn't complicated about the lot of you?"

Melitta laughed as she took the second seat. Callias leaned against the arm of the chair, the faintest hint of amusement reflecting in a quirk of his lips. Natia studied the lot of them, before sitting at the foot of Isidor's chair, her arms tugging her legs to her chest. She said nothing, but Kain took the fact she was willing to sit with them as a good sign.

"He isn't wrong," Melitta mused.

No, he wasn't. The issue drew Kain's attention Rhode, who lingered near the door with a frown. Of all their complicated issues, she was the most pressing.

"You'll need to be careful," Kain cautioned. "Alekos seems observant."

She grimaced, an emotion that seemed shared among the others. Even Kain's name couldn't save them if they were caught harboring one of Eol's most infamous criminals.

"He is. Dalphie...she once told me I should avoid him, if we were to ever cross paths," she said. Her tone turned dry. "Although, she followed it up by saying I should never allow myself to fall into a situation where we met in the first place, so the conversation ended there. I don't know if he would recognize me."

"We should assume he would," Melitta mused, and Kain nodded his agreement. "You are allegedly the person who killed his brother. I know I would not forget the murder's face if something happened to Calli."

Silence consumed the room as her words weighted the air. Kain's hand rose to his temple. How long could they go without Rhode--No, Asha, being spotted? Because it would happen. Their luck allowed for nothing else.

Isidor cleared his throat, forcing Kain to turn his attention from his shadowed thoughts.

"Now that the obvious has been stated," the witch said, his tone irritable. "How did we end up here? What happened in the meeting, and why are we no longer being executed? Presuming this isn't just how they treat all their prisoners before--" He made a cutting gesture over his neck.

Kain grimaced. The reminder was unpleasant, but Isidor had a fair point.

He needed to explain.

"Like I said, Alekos saw my blade. It would be easiest just to show you," he began. "But, Alekos kept it. He said it was because we couldn't be allowed to be armed, but I think it was more of an insurance."

"So you wouldn't run," Melitta guessed.

Kain nodded. "Exactly."

"Gods," Isidor groaned. "Just say what is so important about it and move on, will you?"

Annoyance flashed through his mind, but once again, Kain forced himself to refocus. Isidor was right to be impatient--it was their lives on the line. "The hilt bears the crest of Cieon. It shows...I'm a prince."

It was the oddest thing, saying the words aloud. They were harmless, but one of the heaviest truths he bore.

And also unbelievable.

Which made the groan Isidor released a bit mystifying. He'd expected amusement, or disbelief, not annoyance. At the obvious question on Kain's face, the kid shrugged.

"Your aura is a bit obvious," Isidor grumbled. "And your hair. Fuck, I'm a bit pissed, really. I should've guessed earlier."

Hope sprung in his chest as he glanced at the others. He'd known Melitta and Callias wouldn't be surprised, as they'd no doubt known since the day they met. Melitta's encouraging smile, and Callias' studious frown were expected. He was half convinced it was the only reason he lived. If it weren't for Umae's blessing, what reason would the siblings have had to rescue him?

Rhode's reaction was the surprising one. Her wide eyes and silence told him she hadn't pieced together the bits of his history left unsaid. It occurred to him then, given her history, she had no reason to know that Cieon was missing a prince, let alone a cursed one. As silence blanked the room for a second time, sending Kain's heart racing, the siren eventually, slowly relaxed.

"A lot of us have complicated histories," she offered after another moment. "You give off the aura of multiple gods, and I thought it best not to ask questions. It makes sense that you're royalty. The gods have always had a lot to say about those who lead."

The last for him to study was Natia, who simply watched him with wide eyes. She hadn't guessed, but out of everyone, she was the last he'd expected to be aware. There was little reason for the wolf to know human politics.

"So, we're guests," Kain slowly continued. "Well, something like that. Alekos is willing to hear our side in front of a judge. Simply executing us could cause an international incident, which means Kyril can't disrupt the process as he desired. We're to await the arrival of a truthsayer."

"Guests," Isidor scoffed. "More like gilded prisoners who can't leave, and might be killed if money hits the wrong hands."

Kain wanted to argue, but the witch wasn't wrong. All it took was one successful bribe and they were back where they started. He hated to admit it, but...

"We'll need to win over the court," he said. "Alekos said the situation was difficult because without my name, no one at court would care about the matter. I'd rather not draw that sort of attention--however, it would just make our situation more difficult. And back on the court, even if they are interested, they'll be more distracted by how Alekos is upsetting the Aeolian Ambassador for a nobody, than true justice.

"If we can win their favor, it will help. Fewer hands for Kyril to grease and scheme with."

Melitta hesitated, then nodded her agreement. "Calli and I can help. We are familiar with high society. Well, Reotakian society."

"You more than me," Callias corrected with a shake of his head.

Even one person with practice was better than none.

"The servant who led me here, Lyre, said Alekos had sent for a tailor," Kain added. "He'll likely try to win favor by offering clothing as repayment for our previous confinement. It's an easy way for him to flex his wealth."

And the room Kain had been given made it extremely obvious how much Alekos felt like showing off.

"That will make it easier," Melitta mused. "We will not have to explain our traveled look, and the gift will be a good conversation starter. The nobility will want to pry. Mysteries at court are rare."

Kain nodded, and might've said more, but was distracted by Natia yawning. It prompted a hesitation, his eyes flicking back to the paleness of Melitta's brow, and the heavy way Isidor sat in his chair.

"We can discuss any other plans after the tailor," he suggested. By then, most of them would presumably have had time to clean up and rest.

"One last thing. We will need to come up with a story," Melitta pointed out. "If you do not want to use your name, you need to decide who you want to be. And what the rest of us are to you."

Her words sparked a memory, heat flooding Kain's face. His hand carded through his hair, his eyes falling to where he'd discarded the iron keyring on a table. "About that. This...these rooms are meant for, erm, partners."

Amusement quirked Melitta's lips, countering the instant suspicion on Callias' face.

"It would be best to accept the assumption. All eyes will be on you, making it hard to share information and gather like this without drawing attention. Whoever stays with you will have an easier time sharing with the others," she pointed out.

Isidor snorted. "It won't be me."

"I shouldn't," Rhode murmured. "The less attention I draw, the better."

Callias' eyes were going to bore holes into Kain's head. The easiest suggestion froze on his tongue, which might have been for the best. He was almost certain Callias would have a few choice words on the matter--none of which Kain wanted to hear.

But, apparently he was the only one with the issue.

"I'll stay there," Melitta decided. "Callias can stay on the other side of me, so we can visit each other easily. If something happens and we have to make plans unnoticed, they won't question me visiting my brother."

"Melit--" Callias began.

"You would make a poor lover with your attitude," she interrupted, giving Callias' shoulder a shove. "But, a great disapproving brother. I'm sure anyone wanting to dig for information or feel out the dynamics of our group will happily approach you because of it."

Callias' glare turned to her, before he sighed. His attention flicked to Kain, eyes seeming to weigh something unsaid. Then, he shifted his weight further onto the arm of the chair, resting the top of his head against his sister's. "If this is what you want."

"It is."

And like that, their roles were decided.

Melitta would be Kain's faux partner, Rhode her lady-in-waiting.

Isidor was their family doctor, and Natia his apprentice, even if it was a stretch. Labeling her as a servant would likely get her moved to different quarters, and they couldn't afford that. Callias the disapproving family member insisting on accompanying them on their trip.

The next time they left their rooms, they would dive into the world of nobility.

Kain could only pray they wouldn't drown. 

A/N: And here it is, the late update! 

A bit of a slow chapter, but needed to set up Kain's side of things. I hope you enjoyed, and are ready for court shenanigans. 

See you on Friday! <3